(Photo Courtesy of Muriel Miralles de Sawicki via stock.xchng.)

Many of us think of the human resources department as, well, a resource. They are people who can help us when we’re having trouble at work or with our benefits.

Workplace consultant Brandon Smith says we often forget what HR’s job really is.

“It’s really not a balancing act between employees’ interests and the company’s interests. It’s not,” he says. “It’s really more of a prioritization: company’s interests No. 1 – that’s what they’re paid to do – and employees’ interests No. 2.”

Smith explains what that means for the kinds of things we should talk to HR about on this week’s Working on GPB Radio.

Click here ask Brandon a question about your job or career. We might answer you on the air.